June 09, 2014

WHO gives thumbs up to Saudi MERS efforts

The World Health Organization on Monday appreciated the efforts exerted by the Kingdom’s health authorities in tackling the deadly coronavirus. “For the last three weeks we did not document any new cases in hospitals,” Eiz Al-Deen Muhsini, permanent representative of World Health Organization in Saudi Arabia, said here.

Asked if there are any concerns regarding the Umrah and Haj seasons, Muhsini said: “We are not worried because the cases have dropped significantly. We are relying on the awareness in countries from where these pilgrims are coming, as well as the awareness here when they arrive.”

Muhsini, along with Acting Minister of Health Adel Fakeih, was speaking at the regional negotiation meeting for East Mediterranean Countries organized by the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Health Institutions (CBAHI) in cooperation with WHO.

Muhsini said the main problem is people not taking precautionary measures. The problem, he said, is a “behavior change” issue that needs time to take effect. This includes getting used to putting masks and gloves, for example, for hospital staff.

Muhsini said a number of teams from the Ministry of Health and WHO are visiting different hospitals in Saudi Arabia to increase awareness among hospital staff. The specialist stated that he did not anticipate that the disease to be announced as a epidemic since the condition is “way better now!”

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The World Health Organization on Monday appreciated the efforts exerted by the Kingdom’s health authorities in tackling the deadly coronavirus. “For the last three weeks we did not document any new cases in hospitals,” Eiz Al-Deen Muhsini, permanent representative of World Health Organization in Saudi Arabia, said here.

Asked if there are any concerns regarding the Umrah and Haj seasons, Muhsini said: “We are not worried because the cases have dropped significantly. We are relying on the awareness in countries from where these pilgrims are coming, as well as the awareness here when they arrive.”

Muhsini, along with Acting Minister of Health Adel Fakeih, was speaking at the regional negotiation meeting for East Mediterranean Countries organized by the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Health Institutions (CBAHI) in cooperation with WHO.

Muhsini said the main problem is people not taking precautionary measures. The problem, he said, is a “behavior change” issue that needs time to take effect. This includes getting used to putting masks and gloves, for example, for hospital staff.

Muhsini said a number of teams from the Ministry of Health and WHO are visiting different hospitals in Saudi Arabia to increase awareness among hospital staff. The specialist stated that he did not anticipate that the disease to be announced as a epidemic since the condition is “way better now!”